Anyone have $399 I can borrow? - ProShow Producer

09/01/2006 09:03:08 PM · #1

Today I tried out slide show software by Photodex Corporation. I tried ProShow Gold and ProShow Producer. Gold starts around $70 and Producer at $399.

OMG both were amazingly easy to use and very powerful applications.... but of course, the pro-version "Producer" has some functions I wouldn't want to live without if I were going to buy this type of software. It's all in being able to time the slideshow in every nuance, and the Gold version just doesn't do that. So here I sit....with a demo version of an application I really want, but hate to buy at that price.

Here's my demo first stab - literally 20 minutes with the free trial. This is the album pages from a wedding I shot a couple of months ago. It will take 6 minutes of your life.

Trial Show 1 -- Heath Wedding 2006

So what 'cha think? Worth that price? I'm on the fence.

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

09/01/2006 09:08:48 PM · #2

Cindi check your e-mail or log onto yahoo real quick

09/01/2006 09:23:23 PM · #3

Thank you, James. Anyone else care to have a look at the slideshow and gimme your two cents?

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

09/01/2006 09:24:13 PM · #4

Originally posted by idnic:

Thank you, James. Anyone else care to have a look at the slideshow and gimme your two cents?

$399 at 50% interest!

;)

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/01/2006 09:25:58 PM · #5

Originally posted by rex:

$399 at 50% interest!
;)

LOL Those are some tough terms! Can anyone loan at a lower rate? heheeee

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/01/2006 09:47:06 PM · #6

Come over to Ft. Meyers Beach to discuss it this weekend ;-)

R.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

09/01/2006 09:49:33 PM · #7

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Come over to Ft. Meyers Beach to discuss it this weekend ;-)

R.

I have a shoot on Sunday, can we meet mid-way? *grins* Hate that you'll be so close Robert, and not close enough. Ft. Meyers is still a LONG drive from my house and I have the kids and a client to worry with this weekend. Lexi will be waving to Karma!! If you get a stop-over in Jax you better call me!!

jmlelii

Nikon D850

09/01/2006 09:54:04 PM · #8

I tried to watch it but it wouldnt let me! WAH

09/01/2006 09:54:39 PM · #9

Originally posted by jmlelii:

I tried to watch it but it wouldnt let me! WAH

:( booo! Now that's not right!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/01/2006 10:24:59 PM · #10

Was anyone able to see the slideshow? It shows viewed 45 times...... :/

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

09/01/2006 10:27:54 PM · #11

Cindi, have you tried Memories on TV?

Very easy, very nice. Not as many features, but great results with little work.

And less money.

Codejam

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/01/2006 10:43:04 PM · #12

Originally posted by idnic:

Was anyone able to see the slideshow? It shows viewed 45 times...... :/

Told me to download a plugin; that's where I stopped.

R.

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

09/01/2006 11:01:08 PM · #13

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Come over to Ft. Meyers Beach to discuss it this weekend ;-)

R.

My Mom lives in Ft. Myers. She is here visiting though.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/01/2006 11:09:42 PM · #14

Originally posted by idnic:

Was anyone able to see the slideshow? It shows viewed 45 times...... :/

I saw it. Very nice pictures. Was a little choppy (not smooth) to view, but that could be my connection or their server being bogged down.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/01/2006 11:54:48 PM · #15

Cindi, I have ProShow Gold. I keep thinking I want to get Producer. But I there is really only one thing that Producer has that I want. And that's the ability to manage multiple layers (having multiple images come onto the screen at once). I find that I can "fake it" by using a background and fading between slides ... it makes it look like I have at least two layers and even more with the fades. So for the upgrade price, I just can't justify getting the full deal for that one feature. They either need to lower the price, or offer more "pro features".

Anyway, my 2 cents.

Fromac

Nikon D7000

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

09/02/2006 12:14:32 AM · #16

I watched the slideshow. I have pretty good bandwidth, so it ran very smoothly and looked great. There are some gorgeous photos in there!

My one and only small criticism would be that you seem very fond of starting close and zooming out. It gets repetitive. Try doing some full-frame dissolves, some clean, hard cuts, and some zoom-ins as well.

I've done a lot of video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. I find that many editors (and editing is essentially what you're doing with the slideshow software) overuse many of the wipes and fades and dissolves. In editing/compiling, as in everything else, try to keep it simple...but try to make it interesting.

Good luck.

davidcara

09/02/2006 01:14:54 AM · #17

I agree with dwterry 100%. I have proshow gold and all that is missing is the layers feature. I do the same thing with a fake background and photoshop.

I looked at your show and agree that the zooming in and out tends to hurt the eyes after a bit. Soft cross fades create a great mood, and slow pans from side to side without zoom can give a nice sense of movement to keep the viewers attention without the effects distracting from the images.

Also - After creating the slideshow in ProShow Gold, I convert the file to a windows media file. This allows for easy web viewing without having to download the proshow plugin. In addition, I can save versions for both high speed and dial up viewers. It also makes DVD production easier.

You are a great photographer. I really admire your work and with a little practice you will be teaching us lessons on video editing!

Message edited by author 2006-09-02 01:39:32.